Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 11:09 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 11:09 p.m.

BARTOW | Residents in the remaining 14 occupied homes in Lakeside Mobile Manor mobile home park in Mulberry have until March 31 to find another place to live.

During a court hearing Tuesday, Circuit Judge Steven Selph confirmed the residents have 60 days from Jan. 30, the date he signed the order to shut down the park's sewer system, to leave the park.

The city of Mulberry sued Hutton House LLC, the park's owner, last June after the owners didn't repair the park's leaking sewer lines. The city sought an injunction to halt the use of the sewer system, and the judge granted it after a one-day, non-jury trial in January.

On Tuesday, Selph also ruled that Hutton House should pay the city's legal fees, totaling $12,067.

Daniel Roy, who's lived at Lakeside Mobile Manor for five years, said he wasn't surprised by the 60-day notice.

"It's what I expected," he said, "but it doesn't make it any easier to leave. I hate having to leave our home behind completely through no fault of our own. We've worked to own it, and now we have to leave it."

Many residents in Lakeside Mobile Manor, like Roy, had purchased their mobile homes and were renting their lots from Hutton House. The judge's orders means they'll have to move their homes to another site or leave them behind. Many of the homes aren't sturdy enough to move.

City Attorney Frank Comparetto Jr. said Tuesday the city would have to compensate those residents if the land had been taken for a public use, such as a new road or a public building. But that wasn't the case here.

"The city did not take it for any municipal purpose," he said after Tuesday's hearing. "This is a nuisance abatement, not a taking. This is a public health hazard that is being stopped."

For that reason, he said, the city isn't required to reimburse anyone, either Hutton House or any park residents, for the losses.

The park, at 1014 N. Church Ave., totals 65 homesites and dates to the late 1960s. Hutton House, a family-owned business based in South Florida, purchased the site in January 2005.

City administrators have been working with residents to help them relocate, and nearly half the remaining residents have moved since the Jan. 12 trial.

Bonnie Titus, the city code enforcement officer, said landlords have come to the city offering assistance to the park's residents, and the city plans to continue its efforts until all the residents have moved.

[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533- 9070. ]

<p>BARTOW | Residents in the remaining 14 occupied homes in Lakeside Mobile Manor mobile home park in Mulberry have until March 31 to find another place to live.</p><p>During a court hearing Tuesday, Circuit Judge Steven Selph confirmed the residents have 60 days from Jan. 30, the date he signed the order to shut down the park's sewer system, to leave the park.</p><p>The city of Mulberry sued Hutton House LLC, the park's owner, last June after the owners didn't repair the park's leaking sewer lines. The city sought an injunction to halt the use of the sewer system, and the judge granted it after a one-day, non-jury trial in January.</p><p>On Tuesday, Selph also ruled that Hutton House should pay the city's legal fees, totaling $12,067.</p><p>Joshua Westcott, a Kissimmee lawyer representing Hutton House, has declined comment on the litigation.</p><p>Daniel Roy, who's lived at Lakeside Mobile Manor for five years, said he wasn't surprised by the 60-day notice.</p><p>"It's what I expected," he said, "but it doesn't make it any easier to leave. I hate having to leave our home behind completely through no fault of our own. We've worked to own it, and now we have to leave it."</p><p>Many residents in Lakeside Mobile Manor, like Roy, had purchased their mobile homes and were renting their lots from Hutton House. The judge's orders means they'll have to move their homes to another site or leave them behind. Many of the homes aren't sturdy enough to move.</p><p>City Attorney Frank Comparetto Jr. said Tuesday the city would have to compensate those residents if the land had been taken for a public use, such as a new road or a public building. But that wasn't the case here.</p><p>"The city did not take it for any municipal purpose," he said after Tuesday's hearing. "This is a nuisance abatement, not a taking. This is a public health hazard that is being stopped."</p><p>For that reason, he said, the city isn't required to reimburse anyone, either Hutton House or any park residents, for the losses.</p><p>The park, at 1014 N. Church Ave., totals 65 homesites and dates to the late 1960s. Hutton House, a family-owned business based in South Florida, purchased the site in January 2005.</p><p>City administrators have been working with residents to help them relocate, and nearly half the remaining residents have moved since the Jan. 12 trial.</p><p>Bonnie Titus, the city code enforcement officer, said landlords have come to the city offering assistance to the park's residents, and the city plans to continue its efforts until all the residents have moved.</p><p> </p><p>[ Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533- 9070. ]</p>